Material haulage vehicle



Feb. 5, Y1946. c. F. ossoon 2,394,005*

Y MATERIAL HAULAGE VEHICLE Filed April 18, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 1'- /5 4a /a t9 dln", 1

Feb. 5, 1946. c. F. osGooD 2,394,006

I MATERIAL HAULAGE VEHICLE Filed April 1 8, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 2 'lull IIHIH" luk IIHMWWL Feb. 5, 1946. QsGooD 2,394,006

' MATERIAL HAULAGE VEHICLE Filed April 18,'1944 4 sheets-sheet s Feb. 5, 1946. y v Q F. OSGCQD 2,394,066

` MATERIAL HAULAGE VEHICLE l File@ April' 1s, 1944 4 sheetssheet 4 @Mfr 73 7570 11" .2 E W80 732 y 7 @a W75 76 73,54 y 75W 4 20612231? (mfes d syaad. y

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Patented Feb. 5, 1946 MATERIAL HAULAGE VEHICLE Charles F. Osgood, ClaremonuN. H., assigner lto Sullivan Machinery Company,a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 18, 1944,Serial No. 531,575

(Cl. .21d-.83)`

24 Claims.

This invention relates to a material haulage vehicle and more particularly to an improved material haulage vehicle especially designed for use in underground mines having low head room.

The invention, from one aspect, may comprise a material haulage vehicle of relatively large capacity'having a relatively low and Wide, vertically compact .body providing a plurality ofmaterial receiving compartments land having embodied therein means for moving the material transversely of the compartments to discharge through a side of the vehicle body without increasing. the height of the vehicle during discharge of the material. The vehicle, in one embodiment, may have its body mounted on Wheels equipped with pneumatic rubber tires adapted to run directlyalong l the ground surface without the aid of `a guiding trackway, and-the'material receiving compartments may be arranged in a relatively low position with. respect to the wheels, close to the groundsurface along which the vehicle travels. -Spaces may be formed in the b ody between the compartments within the laterallimits of .the body, and :the steering and .propelling wheels are arranged in these spaces. There may be provided closure members in .the form of. movable vWalls or `.doors .at the sideof the vehicle body :through which the material may be vdischarged 'laterally from the compartments. The means for moving the ma.- terial transversely .of the compartments to Adischarge through aside of the vehiclebody may comprise .endlessconveyors .extending across .the vehicle body at the bottoms .of the compartments, and these conveyors maybe independently or con currently driven vby a motor under the .control .oi clutches. Also, in.v al preferred embodiment, the conveyors may be reversible and the closure mem.- bers may be providedat both sides of the compartments so that the material maybe discharged se.- lectively through .either side ofthe vehicle body. These doors may be held in :closed .position :by means of releasable latches, and Vremote control means may beprovided forthe doorjlatches, and such control means ymay :be `coordinated'with'` the control for the conveyor clutches so that release of the door latches. may Ialways occur prior to the operation of the conveyors. One *.pair of therubber-tired wheels .may ibetraction. wheels andthe other pair steering wheels or .all four `Wheelsmay be steering Vand traction Wheels, and the .traction Wheels may be provided with yindividual .driving motors andsthegsteering wheels mayfbe poweroperated and'controlled. Thelcontrolrmeans for .the door latches `and the conveyorrclutches and-the control means for the motors. ofxthe. vehicle may be operated from the operators station at' one end of the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved material haulage vehicle. Another object is to provide' an improved material haulage vehicle having improved means for discharging the material therefrom. A further object is to provide an improved materialV haulage vehicle havingvimproved means for discharging the maa terial through a side oi lthe vehicle body Without increasing' the overall height of the vehicle during such-r discharge. Yet another object is to provide an improvedmaterial haulage vehicle of extremelylow `Iheight and relativelylarge capacity especially designed `for use in underground mines having low head room.A Astill further object is to provide an :improved material haulage `vehicle having propelling and steering Wheels equipped with pneumatic rubber tires adapted to run directly over the groundl surface without theaid of a guiding trackway, and having a, plurality of material receiving compartments arranged in a novel mannerwith respect to the wheels, close tothe ground surface. Another object is vto provide an improved arrangement including a transverse conveyor at the bottom of each. compartment for moving the 'material laterally from the comparte ments to discharge from a side of the vehicle body. A Vfurther object is to provide an improved .discharge means including movable side Walls' or doors `whereby the material maybe discharged through either .side ofthe vehicle, .and reversible `conveying means for moving the material laterally iromtheicompartments in eitherxdirection. Still another object is-to provide an improved remote .control mechanism for controlling the vdoor latchesfand conveyor. clutches whereby release of the latches is assured prior to the applicationof the clutches. These and other objectsand advantages ofgthe vinvention will, however, hereinafter more iullyappear.

In theA accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of Villustration one form which the invention may assumefin practica ,I nthese dra-wings:

Eig. 41 is a. plan view of an illustrative embodiment of thev improved material haulage vehicle,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the vehicle showny in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 yand 4, Whontaken together, constitute an ,enlarged view in longitudinal verticalsection taken lcentrally Athrough the `vehicle shown in Figi.

Figgis fav cross sectional view taken-substantiallyon line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

.3V and 4. l

withV pneumatic rubber tires adapted to run disitesides of the central compartment.

2 f Y l 2,394,006

may be driven by a Imotor 21 which is preferably of the hydraulictype connected through'suitable Y Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figl 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 3.`

Fig. 8 is a cross sectionalviewtaken substanl5Y tially on line 8 8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken sub- Vstantially on line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Y Fig. 10 is anj enlarged detailsectional view y taken on line I--IU of Fig. ,2, illustrating a por- 10V Vtion of the control means for the door latches and conveyor clutches. v

Fig. llfis an enlarged detail sectional View taken on line II-II of Fig. 16.

In this illustrative embodimentjof the inven-A l5 tion, Vthere is shown a material haulage vehicle;

' generally designated AI of relatively large capacity and of extremely low height, especiallydesigned A fonuse in underground mines having low head room, The vehicle includes an elongated, rela- 20 tively wide and low, vertically compact bodyV 2 Vpreferably of a fabricated welded steel construction mounted'on propelling .and steering wheels The wheels are preferably provided rectly along ,the ground surface without the aid Aof a guidingtrackway. The vehiclev'body 2 is divided into' a plurality, Yherein three, of longitudinally spaced material receiving compartments, herein a centrally located compartment`5 30 and end compartments 6 and 1 disposed on oppo- These compartments are of relatively large capacity and are arranged in a relatively low position with re'- ,spect to the propelling and steering wheels, close to the ground surface so thatthe overall height of the vehicle is maintained at a minimum. The compartments are so arrangedV and constructedV thatzspaces or recesses 8 are providedlongitudinally between the central compartment 5 and the 40 end compartments 6 and 1 and Within the lateral limits ofthe vehicle body. The inner walls' 9 of these recesses extend into the sides of the compartments, and the top walls IIJ of the recesses also provide portions of the bottom walls of the compartments. These recesses or spaces are appropriately shaped to receive the steering and openings I4 closed by closure members such as 65l movable walls or doors I5 hinged at I6 at the tops ofthe sides of the vehicle body to swing outwardly'toward an open position. These conveyors extend'over the bottom of the vehicle body y across the body into adjacencyto the discharge openings I4 in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

The vehicle body, at its opposite ends, is formed to provide lateral recesses I1, I8 and I9, 2,-and arranged in the recess I1 at the rear end of the vehicle is a suitable electrical control apparatus 2I, while arranged inthe recess I8 is an electric motor 22V for driving a suitable pump 23 which may supply liquid under pressure from a liquid tank 24 located beneath the motor, to the Various hydraulically operated devices of the vehicleV as y wil1 later be explained. Arranged in the recess I9 yatthe front end of the vehicle is kan electric cable reel 25 for the power conductor cable 26 through which power medium may be conducted to the electric motors of the vehicle. This reel Arranged 50 transmission means 23 to the reel. The recess 20 is formed to provide a station for the operator of the vehicle, and the various controls for the several power devices of the vehicleV may be grouped near this operators station so as to fa- Y cilitate operation and control of the vehicle.

Now referring tothe improved driving meansY for theV conveyors I I, I2 and vI3,'it will be noted y' that located at the rear end of the vehicle bel neath the inclined bottom of the rear end compartrnentrr Vis an electric motor 29 having its powerA shaftconnected through suitable transmission-` means Y3I`I to a transmission shaft 3i which extends along the bottom of the vehicle body lengthwise of the latter. Bearings `32 carried by suitable bearing supports mounted within the vehicle body surround the shaft 3|, Connectib-le to the shaft 3| iby conventional clutches V33` areisleeve'shafts4 34jwhich are journaled in v .the bearings 32 and which themselves provide bearings for the shaft 3|. KeyedY to theY shafts 34 are chain sprockets 35 which engageoand drive the endless conveyors II I2 and I3. The motor 29 is reversible so that the conveyorsV may be driven selectively in either Vof opposite directions.V

Each of the conveyor control clutches 33 Vhas a shifter 36 with which a shifter yoke V31` cooperates, Y

and these shifter yokes are formed on reciprocable slide bars 38 arranged in'guides 39 secured to the bottom of the vehicle body beneath the transverse conveyors. Y 1

The closure members of doors I5 which close the side openings I4 for the material receivingv compartments are provided with latches 40 forV rigidly locking the doors in closed position. These latches are pivoted at 4I on brackets 42 attached to the bottom of the vehicle body and are formed with cam slots 43 having inclined Vportions 44` and communicating straight portions 45.Y Engaged in these cam slots are pins 46 carried by slides 41 reciprocable transversely along the bottom of the vehicle body in the manner shown in Figs.`5 and 6. Slides 41 are connected for movement together by transverse rods 48. WhenY the slides 41 are in the position shown in Fig. 5, the pins v46 are vre'ceived'in the straight portions 45 of the rcam slot's'so that the latches 46 are.

rigidly held in their locking position. When the slides 41 are 'slid to the right in Fig. 5,v the pin 46 for the left-hand latch 40 remains in the horizontal'portion 45 of the cam slot so that the `left-hand latch is Lmaintained in locking position. When the right-hand slide moves toward the ri-ght in Fig. 5, its pin 46 engages the inclined portion 44 of the carn slot, thereby effecting swinging of the latch 40 into its released position indicated in dotted lines inV Fig. 5, thereby unlocking the right-hand door. When the slidesare shifted laterally inV the opposite direction, the

right-hand latch is maintained in locked position when the left-hand door latch is released. It is accordingly evident that' one or the other Yof the doors I5 at the oppositesides of thecompartments is maintainedlocked while the v.other door is released so that the material may be selectively discharged'from the compartments through the side of the vehicle body.' rllhe shiftable'latch I control rods 48 are engaged .by 'shipper yokes 49, and Asecured tothe rods are horizontal cam plates 50 having cam slots 5I.Y 'Each of the'reciprocable slides '38 for theshifter yokes 31 fo-rth'e Vconveyor clutches carries a'pin 52, andthese pins'are' engagedin theV cani slots 5I of the cam plates 50 so that when the latch operating rod 48 ismoved in one direction or the other, the` clutch shifter yokes. Vare moved to eiect application 'ofthe conveyor' clutches. It is accordingly evident that the control means for the door latches 40 and the operating meansA for the clutches 33 lare coordinated vso that whenever one of the latches is released a conveyor clutch is subsequently applied.

Thus the doors at one side of thevehicle body x are always unlocked before the conveyors are operated to Aeffect discharge of thematerial from the compartments. By 4such an arrangement, the conveyors may be so operatedand the doors'so controlled that the materialjmay be discharged from the compartments selectively througheither side of the vehicle body.

y In this construction, arranged inthe recess y-20 Aproviding the operators station vare control levers y55, 55 and `51 forl operating the control means, and, as shown in Fig. 10, lthese levers are connected by links 58 to levers 59, Al6il'a`nd6'l v(see also'Fig. 11). These latter levers are secured to coaxially arranged 4operating shafts 62, 63 and 64 respectively. These shafts extend longitudinally along the bottom portion of the vehicle body, and the shaft 62 has secured thereto the shipper yoke 49 for the operating means for the door latches and conveyor clutch for the reancompartment 6. The operating shafts-6.3 and '64'are operatively connected to the control means for the door latches and vconveyor'c'lutches for the compartments 5 and 1 respectively.

. The rear traction or propelling wheels j3 are shown as mounted on a rigid axle '65 l'extending transversely across the vehicle body and rigidly secured to the bottom of the vehicle body in the manner shown in Fig; '7. Secured to 'this rigid axle at its opposite ends and arranged in the recesses 8 for the propelling wheels are sup- 'ports 566 by which motors B1 vare carried. The motors 6-1 are preferably of the hydraulic type and are connected through Suitable reduction gearing arranged within the wheels so that the traction wheels may be individually driven. The front steering wheels 4 have axle supports 68 pivoted to swing horizontallyabout upright pivot shafts 59 carried by brackets 10, the `latter being mounted von the opposite ends-of an'axle 1l -extending transversely racross the bottom 'of Athe 5,0

vehicle body. This transverse axle is pivoted at 12 midway between the sides of the vehicle body to rook in a vertical direction, therby'to-faoilitate movement of the vehicle over'an uneven ground surface. Secured to the pivoted laxle is a hydraulic cylinder 13 containing a reciprocable piston 14 having piston rods 15,15 extending through the opposite cylinder heads 1li. These piston rods are pivotally connected at'11 to links V'i8 which are in turn pivotally -connected at 19 to arms 80 secured to the swingable -axle supports 68. When `liquid under pressure lis supplied to the cylinder 13, the piston 14 may be moved to turn the steering wheels in Aone direction o'r the other. f

'Also arranged in the recess '-2`0 near 1"theo'perrators station is a valve box 8l containing control valves 82 and 83. The valve 82 vmay control the iiow of liquid under pressure to'the'wheeldriving `motors 61 and reel driving motor 21vor tofeither of them. If desiredan automatic ley-pass `for-the reel driving motor Amay be provided so that the reel may turn freely in unwiding direction. vThe valve 8? may 'control lthe supply "of" liquid #under 'pressure tov lthe--fsteering cylinder 13. Arranged the conveyors are idle.` The compartmentg'in'ay then be filled with material-such as loose coal'in any suitable manner either by hand or by a inechanical loading machinefand, when the several compartments are filled, the operator'located at his station in the recessZ at the frontend o'f-the vehicle may operate'the switch for y'con-trolling the pump driving motor -22,and the valve-"32 may be vactuated to effect supply of liquid under pressure c from the pump 23 to the wheel driving'motors $1 'and the reel 4drivingmotor'21. As is usual in electric mining equipmennth'e'power conductor cable 25 is extended from themine passage in which the vehicle is located te the main power line in the main entry, and, as the-loaded vehicle is moved forwardly awayf-rom the coalfa-ce` under Ythe propulsion of the traction wheels', the reel r4-2f5 is concurrently driven by the motor "21 in a I"c iirection to wind in the power conductorZS ina well known manner. When the main en-try isreached, the power conductor `may be disconnected from the main 'power line and 'the motor 21 stoppedjer `suitably 'by-passed y`and vthereafter far usual trolley pole may be employedto conduct power 'medium from vthe main power line 'to the electric motor "of the vehicle. When the loaded vehiclefre'aehes 4its point `of discharge in themainent-ry,the control switch for conveyor -drivin'g'rnotor 29 maybe `operate'ed 'to effect running of this motor.l 'The operator may then lactuate the control handles '55, l5G and '351 in the desired manner so thatt-he vdoors 'l at one side of the vehiclefbody maybe 4:independently operated**under'the'coitrollofithe clutches 33, andthefdoor latches may be operated and the conveyors may lbe driven so that the material Amay :be discharged from the'compa'rtments through either side lof fthevh'cle fbodfy. When lthe material has been discharged Efrom-the compartments of `the vehicle "the ddoors may be again latched in closed position, and the conveyor drive clutches 33 maybe released. 'The operator then may rreverse the hydraulic wheel 'dri-ving motors 51 an-d -by-pass thereel driving 'motorfl so that the empty vehicle may be vpropelled in `a rearward direction backthroughfthe mine passage to the coal face when it may be 'again lloaded. When the vehicle leaves the -main entry, Iuseof the trolley pole is discontinued, 35nd, asfthe -ve- 'hiclemoves rearwardly'into the mnepassage, the reel is 4caused to pay out freely -the conductor cable. VBy coordinating thecontrolmeansv ffrthe door latches and conveyor clutches, it -isiin'pos'- 'sible to operatelthe conveyors when the dorsare VVpended claims.

vthrough a side of thel vehiclebodyjwithout Yincreasing the overall height Vof the vehicle during Y such discharge. Further, by the'novel arrangementof the compartments ,with respect tothe propelling and steering wheels, close to the ground surface, a relatively low height and large capacity construction is provided while providing ample spaces for the steering and propelling wheels vrwithin the lateral limits of the vehicle, By coordinating the control means for the door latches with the clutch control means, it is impossible `to operate the discharge conveyors while the doors Y are locked in closed position. By the4 provision y and embodied in various other forms without de-V parting from its spirit or the scope of the ap- What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a material haulage vehicle, a portable body having propelling and steering wheels adapted to run directlyr over a floor surface, said body having a material receiving compartment arranged in a relatively low position with respect to said wheels with the bottomrof said body relatively close tothe ioor surface, said compartment having'portions thereof extending lon-V gitudinally of said body laterally between the wheels, and a conveyor arranged transversely of said bodyat the bottom of said compartment intermediate the wheel axes with the bottom of said'conveyor disposed below a horizontal plane including the wheel axes, and operable tomove the material toward one side of said body laterally between the wheelssaid `eompartn'ient at the portions thereof which extend longitudinally between the'wheels having inclinedbottom walls whereby the material in said compartment may slide by gravity toward said conveyor, and said body having a movable wall at said side thereofV for enabling discharge of theY material moved by said conveyor laterally from said compartment. l 2. In a material haulage vehicle, a portable body having propelling and steering wheels adapted to run directly over a floor surface, said body having a material receiving compartment arranged in a relatively low position with respect to saidcwheels with the bottom of said body relatively close to the floor surface, said compartment having portions thereof` extending longitudinally of said body laterally between said wheels, and a reversible conveyor arranged transversely of said body at the bottom'of said compartment'intermediate the wheel axes with the bottom of said conveyor disposed below a horizontal plane including the wheel axes, and operable to move the -i4 Y Y caemos from said compartment 'at-either .side of said bod-y.. l Y Y .Y Y V,1.3.In a material haulage vehicleA for mines; a relatively low portable body having propelling andv steering wheels adapted to run directlyover the'Y floor of amine, said body having a plurality offmaterial receivingccompartments spaced long'itudinally thereof with the bottoms of said compartments disposed a substantial distance below Y jthe tops of said wheels, said compartments havingportions thereof extending longitudinally of saidgbocly laterally between said wheels, and conveyors arranged transversely of said body at the bottoms of said compartments respectively with .the bottoms of saidconveyorsdispo'sedY below` a horizontal plane including thewheel faxes, and Y operable toV move the material' laterally'toward discharge at one side offsaid body, and certain of Ithe bottom walls` of said compartments being inclined whereby the material in said compartand steering wheels adapted to run directly over material in either of opposite directions toward the Yfloor of a mine, said body havinga plurality of material receiving compartments spaced longitudinally thereof with the bottoms of said cornpartments disposed a substantial distance below 'the tops of said wheels, said compartment having portions thereof extending longitudinallyV ofy the vbody laterally between the wheels, Vand reversible conveyors arranged transversely of saidY body at thebottoms of said compartments respectively with the bottoms of said conveyors disposed'belowA a horizontal plane including the wheel axes, and

Voperable to move the material laterally toward discharge at either side of said body, said compartments having inclined bottom walls whereby the material in said compartments may slide by gravity toward said conveyors, and certain of said inclined bottom walls being formed onV said compartment-portions which extend laterally between said wheels. .A

5. In a material haulage vehiclefor mines, a Y Yportable body having propelling anhd steering body laterally between the wheels, and conveyors n arranged transversely of said body at the Vbottoms of said compartments respectively with the v `bottoms of said conveyors disposed below a hori- Vzontalplane including the wheel axes, and operable to move the lmaterial laterally toward one side of said body, said compartments having inclined bottom walls whereby the material in said compartments may slide by gravity toward said conveyors, and said bottom walls being formed in part on said longitudinally extending compartment portions, and said body having movable side walls for providing discharge openings at said side of said body through which the material moved by said conveyors may be discharged from said compartments. f

6,f-In a material haulage vehicle for mines, a

portable body having propelling and steering `wheels adapted to run directly over the floor of a mine, saidbody ihaving .a fplurality :of material receiving compartments spaced 'longitudinally thereof in :a 4relatively low :position .with 'respect' to said wheels Withithe bottoms ofisaid compartments disposed :a 'substantial distance below y:the tops Aof :said wheels, said compartments vhaving portions .thereof extending flongi'tudina'lly of ith'e body laterally F'betvveen the Wheels, i and irreversible conveyors arranged transversely of vsaid l'body :at the 'bottoms of said compartments respectively with the bottoms .of .said conveyors .disposed below a horizontal Vplane including 'the vvheel axes, and operable to move `the material laterally in either of opposite directions toward either side of .said body, said compartments lhaving inclined bottom walls whereby the material .in said compartments 4may slideby gravity 'toward said conveyors, and said lbottom walls being formed tin part-.on said compartment-portions Whichextend laterally between the wheels, and said "body having movable side Walls for providing discharge openings at the Asides -of said body through which the material moved by 4said conveyors may 'be discharged from said compartments at either side vof said body. V

'7. In a material haulage vehicle for mines, a portable body having propelling and steering Wheels'ada'pted to run directlyover the :floor'of a mine, said lbody'having a plurality of material receiving compartments spaced longitudinally thereof, one centrally 'located compartment intermediate said Wheels and 'fend compartments at 'the opposite sides of said centrally located compartment, `and conveyors arranged transversely of said body at the bottoms of said Icompartments for moving the vmaterial laterally toward one `side of said body.

8. In a material haulage vehicle vfor mines, a portable body having propelling and vsteering wheels adapted to run directly over the floor .of

a mine, said body Yhaving a plurality of material receiving compartments spaced longitudinally thereof, one Icentrally located compartment intermediate said wheels and end vcompartments at `the opposite 'sides of said centrally located compartment, said bodybeing 'formed to provide recesses at the sides thereof for said wheels and the Walls of saidrecesses extending into the sides,

of said compartments, and conveyors arranged transversely of said body at the bottoms of said compartments for moving the material laterally toward one side of said body.

9. In a material `haulage vehicle for mines, a portable body having propelling and steering Wheels adapted to run directly over the door of a mine, said body having a plurality of material receiving compartments spaced longitudinally thereof, one centrally located compartment arranged longitudinally intermediate said wheels and end compartmentsarranged at the opposite sides of said centrally located compartment, said body being Aformed toprovide recesses at the sides thereof for 'said wheels, 'and vthe Wallsof said recesses extending into the sides of `said compartments.

10. In a lmaterial haulage vehicle for mines, a portable .body having propelling land steering Wheels adaptedlto run directlyover the floor of va mine, said body having a plurality of material receiving compartments spaced longitudinally thereof, one centrally located compartment arranged longitudinally intermediate fsaid wheels and end compartments arranged at the :opposite sides/of said centrally locatedv compartment, 'conveyors arranged 'at the Zb'ottoms rofssaid compartments .for mov-ing the .fmaterial laterally :from said compartments, :said body 'being .formed tto provide recesses :at .the slides .thereof for rsaid wheels, and the kWalls-of said .recesses extending into Ysaiid 'compartments and providing sloping surfaces for directingtheimateri'al insaidfcompartments toward said conveyors.

lll. In l'a :material haulage vehicle, fawheel supported body for receiving material to be .transported, vdoors at the sidesof said bo'dy'whereby the material Amay be selectively discharged vfrom said body through either side thereof,.releasable locking means for .locking said doors .in Yclosed position, means for conveying lthe Amaterial 5in said `:body to discharge .at :either .side .of tthe body irrespective lofthe bodily movement :of the vehicle,.and .remote control means located near the operators station .at onev :end of fsaid :body :and associated with `said conveying means vwhereby said .flocking :means may be selectively :operated to effect .release of oneor .theother 4oi" saidxdoors prior to the operation of said .conveying fmeans and ,automatically in A'accordance with :the 'directionin which the material is conveyed. l2. AIna material hau1age'vehicle,awheelgsupported body for .receiving .material to `be transported, doors at thesides of .said fbodywhereby materialzmay -be rselectively discharged rfrom said body through :either .side thereof, releasable locking means for docking said 'doors in 'closed position, reversible conveyor means extending :adjacent the bottom vof said 4body for discharging the material through either sideof the body, remote control means locatednear the operatorsrstati'on at one yend `of `said body whereby said :locking means may rbe selectively foperated \to effect frelease Vof said doors, and l`control means "located in juxtaposition to said lremote controlmeansi'or controlling xthe'direction of operation of saidfcon'- veyor zmeans.

13. 11n a vmaterial haulage `vehicle for Isinines, a portable body having propelling and .steering Wheels ladapted .to run directly overthe .flooriof a mine, said `body having three longitudinally spaced material receiving compartments, 'one compartment located centrally longitudinally between Vrthe steering and propelling Wheelsan'd the other compartments located at the ends'fof the `vehicle 'body at the opposite 4sides of '.fsaid centrally located compartment, said compartments 'being so `arranged and Isaid vehicle Abody being so constructed that spaces are :provided longitudinally between .the central and the end compartments within -the 'lateral limits of .the vehicle body at thesides of the vehicle,ithe 'steering and .propelling wheels being located within said spaces, l:and `said steering wheels having freedom of swinging `movement in vv.their spaces, and conveying means arranged transversely fof the vehicle body at the bottoms-of 'said compartments Vfor moving the material `.to discharge laterally through 10ne-side ofthe vehicle body, said wheel .spaces being arranged 'between said iconveying means.

14. lIn a 'material haulage vehicle, an elongated relatively wide, Vlow compact body divided into` three longitudinally spaced material receiving compartments .having side vdischarge open-t partment whereby material may be discharged laterally through 'one side of the vehicle body Without increasing the overall'height of thevehicle during such discharge, the closure member forV the intermediate compartment being located longitudinally of said body between said wheel recesses, and the closure members for the end compartments being located forwardly and rearwardly respectively with respect to said wheel recesses, and said closure members when closed having their lower edges disposed a substantial distance below a horizontal plane including the wheel axes. 'Y

15. In a material haulage vehicle, an elongated relatively wide, low compact body divided into three longitudinally spaced material receiving compartments having side discharge openings, said body being so formed as to provide recesses in the sides thereof longitudinally between said compartments and within the lateral limits of the body, steering and propelling wheels arranged in said recesses, and releasable closure members for the discharge opening of each compartment whereby materialmay be discharged laterally through one side of the vehicle body without increasing the overall height of the `vehicle during such discharge, the closure member for the intermediate compartment being located longitudinally of said body between said wheel Y recesses, and the closure members for the end compartments being `arranged forwardly and rearwardly respectively with respect to said wheel recesses, said closure members when closed having their lower edges disposed a' substantial distance below a horizontal plane including the wheel axes, and conveying means extending transversely ofthe vehicle at the bottoms of said compartments for moving the material laterally from said compartments when said closure members are open, the horizontal plane including the wheel axes lying between horizontal planes including the top and bottom surfaces of said conveying means. i

16. In a material haulage vehicle, an elongatedV relatively wide, low compact body divided into a plurality of longitudinally spaced material receiving compartments, steeringv and'propelling :wheels on which said body is mounted for steering and propelling the vehicle, conveying means extending transversely of the vehicle at the bottoms of said compartments for moving the material laterally from, said compartments through a side of the vehicle body, and driving meansV for said conveying means including a motor driven transmission shaft extending longitudinally of the vehicle along the bottom of from one side of the vehicle, a closure memberr for said'dischargeopening, conveying means eX- tending transversely of the vehicle at the bottom of said compartment for moving the material laterally from said compartment irrespective of the bodily movement of the vehicle, control means for said conveying means, means for locking said closure member in closed position, and means associated with said control means for assuring release of said locking means always prior to the initiation lof operation of said conveying means.

18. In a material haulage vehicle for mines, a

Vportable body having supporting wheels, saidI body arranged in a relatively low position with respect to said wheels and having aplurality of material receiving compartments spaced longitudinally thereof, said compartments including a centrally located compartment intermediate the wheel axes and end compartments at the opposite sides of said centrally located compartment, and conveyors arranged in a relatively low position transversely of said body at the bottoms respectively of said compartments for moving the material laterally to discharge at one side of said body.

19. In a material haulage vehicle for mines, 'a portable body having supporting Wheels, said body arranged in a relatively low position with respect to said Wheels and having a plurality of material receiving compartments spaced longitudinally thereof, said compartments including a centrally located compartment intermediate the wheel axes and end compartments at the opposite sides of said centrally located compartment, said body formed to provide recesses at the sides thereof for said wheelsfand certain of the walls of said recesses extending into the sides of said compartment.

20. In a material haulage vehicle, a wheel supported body for receiving material to vbe transported, conveying means at the bottom of said body for conveying the material therein to discharge at either end of said conveying means, doors on said body at the ends of said conveying means whereby the material may be selectively discharged from the body atv either end of said conveying means, releasible locking means for locking said doors in closed position, and remote control means located near the operators station at one end of said body for selectively operating said locking means to eiect releaseof said doorsV prior to the operation of said conveying means.

discharge opening, conveying means extending adjacent the bottom of said compartment for moving the material from said compartment irrespective of Ybodily movement of the vehicle, means for locking said closure member in closed position, means, and means for assuring release of said locking means associated with said control means to unlock said closure member prior to the operation of said conveying means.

22. A material haulage vehicle for mines, a

' portable body having propelling and steering Wheels adapted to run directly over the floor of a mine, said body having a material receiving compartment arranged in a relatively low position with respect to said wheels, conveying means arranged at the bottom of said compartment for moving the material from said compartment yto discharge at one end of said conveying means,

said body having a discharge opening at said end of said conveying means'through which thematerial may be discharged, a closure member for said discharge opening, means for locking said closure member in closed position, remote control means located near the operators station at one end of said body for operating said locking means to eiectrelease of said closure member, and control means Alocated nearv to said remote control means for said .conveying control means for controlling the operation of said conveying means.

23. In a material haulage vehicle, a wheel supported body for receiving material to be transported, endless conveying means adjacent the bottom of said body for moving the material from the body to discharge at one end of said conveying means, said body having a discharge opening at said end of said conveying means through which the material may be discharged, closure means mounted on said body to move relative thereto and relative to said conveyingA means for closing said opening to retain the material in said body during transport, means oper- 24. In a material haulage vehicle, a Wheel supported body for receiving material to be transported, reversible endless conveying means at the bottom of said body for moving the material from e said body to discharge at either end of said con- ;veying means, said body having openings at said ends of said conveying means through which the material may be discharged, closure means mounted on said body for movement relative thereto for closing said openings respectively to retain the material in said body during transport, means operable from the operators station at one end of said body for eiecting release of either of said closure means While said conveying means remains inoperative, means for driving said conveying means in either direction irrespective of the bodily movement of the vehicle, and control means for said driving means arranged near said operating means for said'release means.

CHARLES F. OSGOOD. 

